Valley of Decision

Praise for HEALER
of
CARTHAGE

“
Healer of Carthage
held me captive from the first page to the last. Lynne Gentry's authentic voice and rich detail in this breathtaking time-travel adventure delight with every twist. Gladiator games, plagues, romance, and high-stakes political intrigue carried me from the filthy streets of ancient Tunisia to its lavish palaces with a cast of characters I won't soon forget. Highly recommended!”

—Carla Stewart, award-winning author of
Chasing Lilacs
and
Sweet Dreams

“Until recently, I didn't think there could be a time-travel book that was also Christian. This book blew that idea right out of my head. Lynne Gentry has written a wonderful time-travel story that has elements of medical suspense as well, one of my favorite genres. Her characters leaped off the page, grabbed my heart, and pulled me through the portal. I lived every minute with them. The only problem is that I will have to wait awhile before the next installment comes. Write faster, Lynne!”

—Lena Nelson Dooley, award-winning author of
Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
;
Maggie's Journey
;
Mary's Blessing
; and
Catherine's Pursuit

“With her debut novel, Ms. Gentry has proven to be a masterful storyteller.
Healer of Carthage
is full of depth and emotion, twists and turns that carry the reader away to ancient Rome. From the first page to the last, the reader is instantly taken into a world of emotion, secrets, and political intrigue. Ultimately, this is a story about healing past wounds and discovering love . . . in its many varied forms. I highly recommend accepting this author's invitation to fall into another world. A wonderful trip awaits.”

—Kellie Coates Gilbert, author of
Mother of Pearl

“What a wonderful premise!
Healer of Carthage
follows Lisbeth, a modern-day doctor, as she's transported through time to ancient Carthage. I found it fascinating to watch Lisbeth apply her knowledge of medicine to a group of very early Christians. This novel is rich in detail and drama. A unique and terrific debut by talented author Lynne Gentry!”

—Becky Wade, author of
Undeniably Yours

“Lynne Gentry's debut novel pulls you in from page one and never lets you come up for air as you follow Lisbeth Hastings into the turbulent world of third-century Carthage in a gripping tale of mercy, passion, sacrifice, and deceit.”

—Lisa Harris, author of
Dangerous Passage

“From a modern-day emergency room to third-century back alleys,
Healer of Carthage
pulls readers into a riveting story that will keep pulses racing and hearts twisting. Beautiful writing. Compelling story. Enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes every step of the way. Kudos to author Lynn Gentry for this remarkable, haunting story line. Highly recommended!”

—Janice Thompson, author of
Queen of the Waves

“Extraordinary writing. Exceptional story. I've just discovered my new favorite author in Lynne Gentry. With an incredible, compelling new voice she weaves the past and present together in a fascinating tale that I couldn't put down. I can't wait to read more from her, and while I'm waiting, I think I'll read
Healer of Carthage
again!”

—Elizabeth Goddard, Carol Award–winning author of
Treacherous Skies, Riptide
, and
Wilderness Peril

Praise for RETURN
to
EXILE

“Compelling.
Return to Exile
took me to a time period that I had never been that interested in and built a sympathetic heart in me for the horrific things Christians had to face in that area and time. Because Lynne Gentry's characters are so well-developed, they took up residence in my thoughts and have lingered there for over a week after I finished reading the book. Of course, I can hardly wait until the next book comes out. I believe every Christian should read these books to give them an awareness of how blessed we are to be able to live our beliefs without fearing for our lives.”

—Lena Nelson Dooley, author of the double-award-winning
Catherine's Pursuit

“
Return to Exile,
Lynne Gentry's sweeping saga of lost dreams, epic struggles, sinister passions, and unrequited love—all playing out against the stunning backdrop of third-century Rome—returns to enthrall readers of her earlier
Healer of Carthage
. With surprising twists readers won't see coming, Gentry has created an inspiring story few will be able to put down until the final page. I am a huge fan of the Carthage Chronicles series, and of author Lynne Gentry. Can hardly wait for the final installment to see how everything turns out for Dr. Lisbeth Hastings!”

—Kellie Coates Gilbert, author of
A Woman of Fortune

“Gentry has done it again! Book two in the Carthage Chronicles had me weeping and cheering right along with the main characters, Lisbeth and Cyprian. Their struggle to forge a life from the ashes of Carthage's diseased city made my heart pound, and as the peril facing them ratcheted, so did my pulse rate. Add Gentry's enviable talent for wordsmithing, and
Return to Exile
makes for an incredibly entertaining read.”

—Elizabeth Ludwig, author of
Tide and Tempest

“In
Return to Exile
, Lynne Gentry takes readers on another breathtaking journey as they are transported with Lisbeth from the twenty-first century back to third-century Carthage. But this time, while Lisbeth thinks she's prepared for what awaits her on the other side of the Cave of the Swimmers, there's no way for her to anticipate the frightening reality, as she is thrown into an impossible situation that will leave readers begging for more.”

—Lisa Harris, author of the Christy Award–winning novel
Dangerous Passage

“Author Lynne Gentry has done it again!
Return to Exile
is a high-stakes adventure filled with unforgettable characters and amazing historical details. Gentry doesn't just write with boldness and authenticity but delivers powerful messages in the midst of the plot twists and turns. Turn the page to return to ancient Carthage and join Dr. Lisbeth Hastings in this time-traveling journey!”

—Elizabeth Byler Younts, author of
Promise to Return

For my grandchildren.

The cost of true courage is great.

The day will come when you are called to pay the price.

Remember those brave souls who went before you

and sacrificed out of love.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever . . . even when the end comes.

—1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT

Dallas, Texas

W
HEN UNATTENDED WOUNDS SUCCUMB
to infection”—Dr. Lisbeth Hastings advanced the slide in the PowerPoint presentation, and the raw end of a severed leg appeared on the screen—“amputation of the gangrenous extremity may be the only way to stop a deadly pathogen from progressing to the body's core.” She was not surprised by the hand that shot up.

The ambitious resident with thick glasses and freshly pressed scrubs was always looking for an opportunity to prove his brilliance. Debating whether to give him an excuse to derail her lecture, Lisbeth took a deep breath. “Your question, Dr. Gingrich?”

The surgical resident pressed his glasses to his nose. “What about IV Vancomycin or Zosyn?”

Lisbeth kept her expression neutral, but inside she was cringing. Looking at Dr. Gingrich was like looking at herself nearly twenty years ago. Self-serving. Terrified. And determined to control everyone and every outcome. What a waste of precious time and energy. Oh, the things she would tell that desperate girl if she ever got the chance to go back in time again.

She suppressed her desire to take the kid aside and shake some sense into him. Her job was not to coddle young doctors but to make them into quick-thinking surgeons able to face anything the operating room threw at them.

“Vigorous rounds of antibiotics are always the first line of defense. But if modern medicine fails, the ancient practice of amputation is the better decision.” Her phone vibrated in the pocket of her white coat. Lisbeth ignored the summons and kept her gaze squarely on the young surgical resident. Maybe if he'd watched his mother amputate a man's leg with nothing more than a serrated saw and a mandrake root for pain, he too would want assurances that he'd done the right thing. “For the treating physician, the decision is never easy. Everything must be considered. Age, overall health, postsurgery quality of life.” The phone vibrations ceased, then immediately began again. She hated being interrupted during grand rounds. Seizing the opportunity to equip a surgeon with the ability to make hard choices was the best part of her job. Lisbeth fished her buzzing phone from her pocket and glanced at the caller ID. “Excuse me, I have to take this. You're dismissed.” She exited the conference room. “Papa, everything okay?”

“Maggie's gone!” he blurted.

“What?” Lisbeth hurried across the hall, ducked into her office, and closed the door.

“That fancy art college of hers called.” Panic made his voice tremble. “She's not been to a single class since we hauled her fanny to Rhode Island.”

“I talked to her yesterday on her birthday.” Lisbeth's focus shot to the framed photo of Maggie standing outside her freshman dorm. The vivacious young woman waving good-bye was beyond beautiful. Features perfect as sculpted marble. Sea-blue eyes that rippled with a restlessness that was equally becoming and unsettling. Whenever Maggie walked into a room, she commanded attention without even trying, like the aristocrat she was. Lisbeth had been such a tomboy at that age, climbing dunes and digging for buried treasure with her father until he sent her to the States
for college. Maggie, on the other hand, possessed a sense of feminine confidence Lisbeth still struggled to grasp.

Leaving her daughter in a city fifteen hundred miles away had been harder on her than it had been on Maggie. Papa had said letting go was a natural part of parenting, but nothing about telling her daughter good-bye felt natural to Lisbeth. She'd loved being a mother. Motherhood had saved her. Given her a place to deposit all the love she still had for Maggie's father.

“What did she say?” Papa's anxious voice jerked Lisbeth back to the present.

She rubbed her temple, trying to recall her conversation with Maggie. “She was excited about turning eighteen and being able to make her own decisions.”

“What did
you
say?” Papa's question held a tiny edge of accusation.

What didn't I say?
Hairs on the back of Lisbeth's neck bristled as the discussion replayed in her mind. It was the same fight they always had: what Maggie could and could not do; where she could and could not go; and why it was in her daughter's best interest to leave the past in the past and move forward.

Lisbeth's stomach churned at her own hypocrisy. Had she not gambled on what mattered most and taken Maggie to the third century, her failure to reunite her family would not be a wound that refused to heal. Infection, yellow and foul, had seeped into her relationship with her daughter. If she could not stop the deterioration, eventually one of them would be forced to cut the other off. And she knew exactly who would wield the serrated saw. A braid of guilt, regret, and animosity thick as the blond plait that hugged Maggie's neck squeezed Lisbeth's heart.